FOLLOWING the announcement last month that North Wales is to have its very own regional rugby academy, things are certainly moving forward for the future of the game within the region.

Off the field everything is seemingly falling into place for the next generation of players to be developed and to find their way in the game.

But the current crop of youngsters are certainly making a good fist of things already.

Despite both Gogledd Cymru under-16s and U18s crashing to defeats in their opening Age Grade Championship matches at Llandovery against the Scarlets, the U16s claimed a superb victory over Cardiff Blues North at Colwyn Bay last weekend to emphasise just how far they’ve come in their development.

Two tries from Ruthin’s Matt Richards, and single scores from Jason Blackmore of Rhyl and Llandudno’s Elliott Crowe, as well as four penalties and a conversion from Mold’s Lewis Barker ensured a superb 43-24 win.

Under-16s team manager Bryden Lloyd was overjoyed at the result, but believes there is a far bigger picture to look at.

It is hoped that over the course of the next six years these U16s will make up the bulk of the Gogledd Cymru senior team that is entered into the Premiership, and Lloyd is adamant the idea is not just a pipedream.

“Gogledd Cymru to these boys is not just a team,” said Lloyd. “It is a brand if you like, maybe that’s not the right word, but it is something for these lads to aspire to, something for them to reach and to target over the next couple of years.

“And I can tell you something, they are well on course. The whole of the team has a professional attitude and ethos. We drum into them that if they have a problem with anything at all, whether they are going to see the doctor over an injury, an illness, whether they can’t make training, or are a little under the weather, then they tell us about it.

“They don’t just keep it to themselves, they are told to let us know. It is getting them into a professional mindset at this stage.”

Lloyd added: “We have professional coaches, we have dieticians, physios available to them, and it is only going to get better for them with this academy.

“It is about giving them every advantage that they would get in South Wales, and it is working for them. Since they came together in June they have really developed as a group. They are a close bunch of lads and they have really gelled.

“Every so often they will play for their club sides in a game against each other and during that match they will be trying to kill each other, but as soon as it comes to Gogledd Cymru, they are back working together and pulling in the same direction. The boys are always facebooking each other and they have grown really close.

“What they all realise is that this essentially is a pathway to international rugby, this is the first step along the road to playing at elite level and they are all capable of that.”

Lloyd is confident it was a lack of belief rather than skill or endeavour that cost them in their first match against the Scarlets.

“We went down there and lost,” he added. “After the game we all sat down together and the question was asked, how many of you came off the bus thinking you were going to lose? After a couple of seconds seven hands went up, and when you’ve got seven out of 22 not believing they can win then simply you are not going to win.

“Since then we have told them over and over that they are good enough, that they can compete and they are starting to believe us.”

While Lloyd is team manager, he leaves the coaching side of the game up to a select bunch to guide the players through.

Caernarfon’s Teifion Thomas is the head coach, while he is supported by Llandudno’s Jason Roberts and Martin Rees of Colwyn Bay, and professional coach Stuart Milne, who has worked with Kelso RFC in Scotland.

All four have their level four coaching badges, and are working wonders.

“Stuart came down to Wales to work as a WRU regional development officer, and he actually asked to work with the U16s because he could see their potential,” said Lloyd.

“The coaches are absolutely first class, they work well with the boys, and what is also good is that there is no favouritism to players from their own clubs. Every player is selected on merit and it shows in the performances of the team.”

Two years below their U18s counterparts, Lloyd admits there is a great sense of camaraderie between the two age groups, which again will only serve to boost rugby in the region.

“Honestly it’s great to see the lads all mix together,” Lloyd stressed. “Like I said it is not like a club, it is like a brand, they are all working to pull in the same direction, and it will only boost Gogledd Cymru’s chances of success in years to come.”

This Sunday both U16s and U18s travel south to take on Cardiff Blues. The U16s take on Cardiff Blues South, while the U18s are in action against the Cardiff Blues.